Spring assembly



Dec. 13, i966 F, J, RODGERS 32932433 SPRING ASSEMBLY Filed 0G12. 7,' 1965 United States Patent M 3,291,433 SPRING ASSEMBLY Frank J. Rodgers, 78 North Ave., Fanwood, NJ. Filed Oct. 7, 1965, Ser. No. 493,805 Claims. (Cl. 248-317) The present invention relates to an improved tension spring for 4holding weights and more particularly to an improved tension spring for balancing a pneumatic tool.

In using pneumatic tools, fluid under pressure is fed thereto by an air hose such as the air hose shown `in Patent No. 3,021,871, dated February 2.0, 1962. In such structures, it has lbeen found desirable to use a coil spring positioned within the coi-ls of an air hose so that the spring will balance and aid in supporting the tool.

In the past it has been necessary to use different length springs as balancers in order to cause the balancers to operate with hoses of different sizes. Furthermore, such springs usually have a plug inserted therein and the tool hangs from the plug by a linkage or chain. It has been found that the plug sometimes is pulled out of the spring by the weight of the tool or by undue tension applied thereto.

The present invention avoids these defects and has for one of its objects the provision of an improved coil spring for carrying a weight.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved coil spring for carrying a weight in which the weight is easily held in place in the spring.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved spring in which means are provided for securing a weight along diiferent lengths.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved spring for use `as a tool balancer for an air hose.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the -invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. l is an elevational view showing a coil spring in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail, partly in section, showing the lower end of the coil spring of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the coil spring of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a detailed enlarged perspective view of the lower end of the coil spring.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a pneumatic tool 1 4is fed from a source of fluid 2 by a coil hose 3 which is more adequately described in Patent No. 3,021,871. The coil hose 3 is connected to the source 2 and the tool 1 by the usual coupling assemblies 5 and 4, respectively.

A balancer spring in the form of a coil spring depends from any suitable frame, such as the source of uid 2, by means of a strap 11 through the intermediation of a ball-and-link chain 13 comprising balls 14 and links 3,291,433- Patented Dec. 13, 1966 ICC 15. The ball-and-link chain 13 has a pair of spreadable clasps `6 at opposite ends thereof having lan opening 7 therein and are adapted to accommodate the ball 14 of the ball-and-link chain 13, as is well known. At the top, the coil balancer spring 10 has its upper end portion 12 bent at an angle to its axis and the free end of the coils thereof is adapted to be inserted in opening 7 in the upper spreadable clasp 6 and the o-pening 8 in strap 11, in a manner similar to the lthreading of a key on a coil key ring. The tool 1 has a handle 9 around which the ball-and-link chain 13 is looped and attached to the clasp 6. As will be explained in greater detail below, the chain 13 is permanently secured to the spring 10 and to the tool 1 so that when the tool 1 is to be used both coil 3 and the balancer spring 10 will be extended. When the tool 1 is released the balancer spring 10 and the coil 3 are retracted to their normal positions as shown in FIG. 1. The balltand-link chain 13 lies loosely within the body `of coil spring 10 in order to permit the spring 10 to be stretched.

In order to lock the ball-and-link chain 13 in place the lower end 16 of the spring 10 is rnade in a conical shape with the ball-and-link chain 10 extending through an opening 17 at the bottom.

The tip 18 of the spring 10 which forms the opening 17 is squeezed around the link 15 and between the balls 14, as shown in FIG. 2, so that the chain 13 is locked in place and cannot move relative to the spring 10.

In this manner a special plug for the spring 10 is not necessary. Furthermore, if it is desired to position the tool 1 to different heights relative to spring 1l), it is merely necessary to lock the chain '10 in place along different balls so that the same coil spring can be used for various desired lengths.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides an improved coil spring which may be easily manufactured and which can support weights without the necessity of using special plugs and which can also be used for adjustably mounting weights thereon at different distances therefrom.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and yarrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A coil spring comprising a plurality of coils, said spring having a free end with an opening therein, a linkage mechanism mounted within said coil spring and extending through the opening in the free end of the spring, said free end being conical with said opening at the smaller end thereof -and being squeezed around said linkage to prevent movement thereof relative to the spring.

2. A coil spring as claimed in claim 1, wherein said linkage mechanism comprises a ball-and-link chain and wherein said free end is squeezed around said linkage between said balls.

3. A hanger assembly comprising a coiled hose for sup- -plying fluid to a tool, a coil spring mounted within the coils of said hose, said coil spring comprising a plurality of coils and having a free end with -an opening therein, a tool holding linka-ge mechanism mounted within the coils of said spring and extending through the opening on said free end, said free end being squeezed around said 3 4 linkage mechanism for preventing movement thereof rela- References Cited by the Examiner tive to the spring.

4. A hanger assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein UNITED STATES PATENTS said free end is conical with the opening at the smaller 2,319,638 5/ 1943 Sheker 248--339 @11d thefeof- 5 2,477,366 7/1949 Easton 248-54 5. A hanger assembly as clalmed 1n clalm 4, whereln 3,042,355 7/1962 Stevens 248 328 said linkage mechanism comprises a ball-and-link chain and wherein said free end is squeezed around said linkage between the bans thereof. CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Prlmary Exammer. 

1. A COIL SPRING COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF COILS, SAID SPRING HAVING A FREE END WITH AN OPENING THEREIN, A LINKAGE MECHANISM MOUNTED WITHIN SAID COIL SPRING AND EXTENDING THROUGH THE OPENING IN THE FREE END OF THE SPRING, SAID FREE END BEING CONICAL WITH SAID OPENING AT THE SMALLER END THEREOF AND BEING SQUEEZED AROUND SAID LINKAGE TO PREVENT MOVEMENT THEREOF RELATIVE TO THE SPRING. 